Covering device for outdoor playing fields



July 17, 1934- J. A. SCOTT Er AL 1,966,687

COVERING DEVICE FOR OUTDOOR PLAYING FIELDS Filed June 29. 1951 v2.Sheets-.S}heer, l

July 17, 1934. 1 A. SCOTT m- AL 1,966,687

COVERING DEVICE FR OUTDOOR PLAYING FIELDS Filed June 29. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FSU Patented July 17, 1934 UNH E? @Prien 31,966,687 -COVERNGD`EVECEFOROUTDOOR PLAYNG FIE LDS

Y lohn -A. Scott and Harmon L. Hadley,

` St. ilils, .ll/I0.

Application tuners, 1931, senin No. *5:47572 '10' Claims.

This rinvention relates te devices -for covering outdoorlplaying fields.

In `pla-ying i-varicus Aoutdoor `gaines and particularly fbaseball, it -is :highly desirable that; the playing .'elid, suoli as the diamond, `be kept fdry. is especially true Where it rains just before tn'e game -is fscheduled to start `or Awhere :the game has beencstartedrand-is interrupted by frain of comparatively sho-ftduration. Y

The present practice is tobring out fa tarpaulin and vcarry-it to theeld andthcn spread it thereover. requires a large Anumber of 'men and takes considerable :time 'so l.that the `diamond is generally pretty Well'soaked'before the men succeed in completely spreading tliecovering. :Fur-

tliermoravtlie life of :tnecover :is of short duration due to `rough handling.V Y Y The present invention has .for its primary -object the provision of acanvas cover -Wbicn can be stored on the :field Without interfering with tlie'iappearance or the use of the latter and which 'can fbe-operated in Asuch -.a.-manner that the playing iield or Ydiamond canffbe veoveredat a momentsl notice and 'with lminimum amount of j labor.

Other objects ofthe invention are to pro-vide a playing field with la trench, located a suitabledistance lin relation therewith, and to mount in said trench actuating mechanism 4preferably operated vbyhydraulic:means forsupporting a cover, which latter is rolled on a suitable core and vcan fbe rno-vedgupwardly in said trench so yas to unr'o'll said cover over the playing ield :and which, when not =in use,fi-s :moved downwardly Stil-l other object-sof the invention are :to -prcrvide asuitable support operatively `mounted -w-ithin a trench yand carrying =a rollof canvas, and to provide means for 1unrolling said'canvasover the field in 'an efficient :mannen said vmeans -bein-g operable to roll :up'said can-vas When `not rin use, sai'ds'upport'b'eing provided with a covercarrying sod Awhereby Whensaidsuppcrt is moved down- Wardly within said trench, `said cover completely closes tlie upper end of -said trench.

Further fobjects "of 'the invention fare to :provide means `for Winding the -cover on a suitable core :and to provide suitable mechanism -to operate said Winding and unwinding means With 'these and v'fotlfier objects in -vie-W, my invention consists in certain novelffea'tureslof -construction and Yarrangement of parts, jhereinafter more fully described :and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 'in Which- Figure lis -a top p'lan 'View 'o`i1aY playing :field equipped With-our devicefand-s'nowing the cover in dotted lines in unwcundrposition.

Figure-2 is .an enlarged `top :plan View o1" cnr devicapartly-broken a-Way,'andshoWing thecover in extendedposition.

:Figure-3 is an yenlarged vertical cross-section .ta-ken through the trench and showing the sup port -in raised ,position with s.the Ylcover Wound onthe'coremember.

v .Figure y4 isa vertical .cross-section showing one of the stakes in position and showing one set of ropesconnectedthereto. i v

Eligure .-5 shows `a nstep in the Winding of the rollof canvas.

Referring by numerals to Vthe accompanying drawings, l0 .indicates Aa playing -1ield, such .as a baseball diamond, to-one sideof -vvliich-isformed a trench 1l which `isprovided preferably with concrete walls -12and-contains vthe .supporting .means 14 Whiclficarry the canvas .coverl .when rolled on :a corebody 16. Thesupporting `means 14 `are mounted on the upper-ends of a plurality of vertically xmovablestandards 1 ?1 which extend below the bottomo'said .trench-and are operatedin any suitable manner, .preferably by hydraulic means, to raise andlowersaidsupporting means 14,

The supporting means .preferably consists of twonside members or YI-beams .18. which extend longitudinally of the trench and .are held in spaced :relation `by cross members r 1.9 .andere .sup-

ported on standards 17 by caps 20. A .horizontally disposed plate 2l --is .secured to and extends between theside members 1S. The canvas coi/.c1115 isrolled-oncore body 16 andis.ofsufficientlength so that when -unrolled it `extends (from said trench over the field Aand adjacent -to stake pockets 22 vwlfricli arearrangedfin tbe iieldiin spaced relation With the diamond. t

The inner end ofthe canvas cover issecuredto thecore member, asindicated at 24,7an`d the outer r end lof said cover is secured .to plate 21 as indicated at v25.

`In protecting the diamond, the cover is rolled tnereover kin thedirection Yfrom .the trench toward said stake pockets and .as theouter end of said l cover is -fixed the eld lvvill be .completely covered.

The -I-beam 18 arranged .remotely from the playing -reld has Iiixed `thereto -a longitudinally disposed ang-le ironv26. '.Il'iis .angle iron extends ythe full length -of the -Ibeam..l8 and has fixed ,thereto at spaced intervals upwardly extending brackets '271. Each bracket is Vformed preferably of an angleiron-28l1avinga vertically disposed lleg 28a Aand a-lfiorizontallyv disposed leg 28h and ina-ving -its vertically extending flanges .presented inwardly. A gusset plate 29 is xed to these anges and reinforces said bracket. This gusset plate is curved inwardly, as indicated at 30, in order to clear the roll of canvas when the latter is located on the floor or plate member 21. The horizontally disposed portions 28h of the angles 28 have fixed thereto a longitudinally disposed pan 3l which is filled with sod, as indicated at 32. When the supporting means 14 occupy downward position, the sod portion 32 contained in said pan 31 is disposed in the same horizontal plane with the sod of the eld and forms the cover for the trench.

When the canvas is rolled on the core member 16 it occupies position shown in full lines in Figure 3 so that the supporting means 14 can be lowered into position shown in dotted lines, whereupon the sod 32 is arranged in horizontal plane with the ground and the trench is completely covered.

To prevent sharp edges or portions from extending upwardly through the sod and causing injury to the players or other persons, the pan 31 has its edges preferably terminating below the top of the sod and the latter is preferably protected by a flexible lining 34. 'I'he vertical walls l2 of the trench terminate a suitable distance below the sod and are provided with rubber caps 35 which are resilient so as to yield under the players foot and also to form proper contact with the edges of the pan 31.

The upper portions of said rubber inserts or caps terminate below the horizontal plane of the sod, as indicated at 35a. These rubber pieces are preferably triangular in cross section, thereby providing sloping walls, and the pan 31 has correspondingly inclined sliding walls to form a proper contact with said rubber members.

Thus the canvas isralways ready for use and when moved into elevated position can be readily unrolled over the diamond. To accomplish this, a plurality of ropes or cables 36 is used, while to roll the canvas upon the core body a plurality of ropes or cables 37 is provided for this purpose. Cables or ropes 36 and 37 are arranged at suitable intervals throughout the whole length of the core member and the canvas as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. One end of each rope 36 is secured to core member 16, as indicated at 36a. When the canvas is rolled upon said core body, portions of these ropes are also rolled thereon, as shown in Figure 3, and when the canvas is unrolled these portions of said ropes are disposed under said canvas. Each rope 36 after leaving the roll extends outwardly and passes over a sheave 38 each of which is mounted on a stake 39. This stake is adapted to be placed in a corresponding pocket 22, preliminary to the unwinding operation of the canvas. From sheave 38 rope 36 then returns and has its other end 36b secured to a corresponding sheave 40 which is fixed to a horizontally disposed shaft 41. This shaft is disposed a suitable distance under pan 3l and rearwardly of the core member 16 when the latter occupies home position. Said shaft 41 extends the entire length of said core member and is preferably provided at one end with a handle 42 by means of which said shaft can be operated. However, if desired, an electric motor can be used to actuate said shaft. To unwind the canvas the shaft 41 is actuated in the direction indicated by arrow in Figure 3. This causesrope 36 to travel in directions indicated by arrows in Figures 3 and 4 whereupon said rope is wound upon shaft 41 and the roll oi.' canvas is caused to unroll and travel over the diamond until the core member 16 is located adjacent to the stakes 39. In this manner the entire diamond is covered by said canvas and said core member 16 occupies positions shown in Figure 5.

The cables 37 are used to roll the canvas upon the core member 16 and return the canvas into the positions shown in solid lines in Figure 3. Preferably cables or ropes 37 are arranged adjacent to cables or ropes 36 as indicated in Figures l and 2. One end 37a of each cable 37 is anchored by means 25 which are also used to anchor the inner end of the canvas in position on plate 21. Cable 37 then passes upwardly over the far side of the roll of canvas, and has its other end secured to shaft 41, as indicated at 37b. When the canvas is unwound by the actuation of shaft 41 and cable 36, (as indicated by arrow in Figure 3) cable 37 is unwound from shaft 41 and is laid on the playing field under said canvas, as indicated in Figure 5, there being sufcient length of cable 37 wound on shaft 41 to permit this unrolling movement of the canvas. When the shaft 41 is actuated inthe opposite direction, cable 37 is wound upon said shaft, thereby causing core member 16 to roll in the loops of cables 37 toward shaft 41, thereby causing the canvas to be wound on said core. At the same time, cable 36 is unwound from said shaft 41 and a corresponding portion thereof is wound on core member 16 in correlation with the canvas. A suitable number of cables 36 and 37 is used to permit efficient operation of the device.

A stop member 43 is secured to plate 21 inwardly of said roll of canvas and serves to limit 110 the inward movement thereof during the rolling or restoring operation. This stop member may be of a single piece, extending the full length of the roll, or a plurality of short lengths thereof may be used.

Preferably the canvas is provided near its outer end or adjacent to the core member 16 with a plurality of slits or openings 44 and near its inner end or adjacent to the trench with similar openings or slits 45. These openings permit the 120 water to be drained from said canvas during the rolling operation. The trench 11 is preferably provided with suitable drains 46 through which water may be conveyed away from the trench. Stake pockets 22 are preferably arranged at an 125 angle from vertical and in a direction away from the trench so that when the stakes 39 are placed therein they occupy positions shown in Figure 4 and will not be displaced by the pull exerted thereagainst by the operation of the cables 36. 130 Each stake is preferably provided with a pair of wheels 47 arranged to each side of sheave 38 whereby said stakes can be rolled over the ground before and after the placement of the canvas. When the canvas or cover is not in use, the ropes 135 36 as well as the stakes are placed upon plate 21 and are stored in the trench with the roll of canvas. Thus everything necesasry for the operation of the device is contained within the trench and is always ready for use.

As the cover is always located at the eld and ready for use, said eld can be covered at a moments notice with the minimum amount of labor. The displaceable top 32 closes the trench when said cover and parts associated therewith occupy 145 lowered position.

When stakes 39 are removed from pockets 22, the upper ends of the latter are closed by suitable covers (not shown). In order to permit the core member 16 to adapt itself to the contour or sur- 150 face irregularities of the field 'over which itis traveling when the canvas is being unrolled,'said core member is preferably jointed or provided with a plurality of universal joints, as indicated at 48.- These joints are arranged at regular intervals throughout the entire length of the core Amember so that the sections of the latter can occupy positions slightly angular with respect to the main axis.

Our device is simple in operation, can .be readily operated by inexperienced persons, and is highly efficient in performing its intended functions.

We claim:

1. A protective device for outdoor playing fields comprising .a support arranged on one side of said field, a plurality of sheaves detachably supported adjacent to the lopposite side thereof, a core member normally looselyv carried by said support, a section of canvas rolled on .said core member, the inner end of said canvas being secured thereto and the outer end being secured to said support, a revoluble member carried by said support and arranged above said core member when it occupies normal position, a first set of cables wound on said core member in iuxtaposed relation with said canvas, each cable having a looped portion extending across said iield and engaging the corresponding sheave, the yinner end of each cable being secured to said core member and the outer end to said revoluble member whereby the operation of the latter in one direction winds said cable thereon and moves said core member over said field and unrolls said canvas, and a second set of cables each having its outer end attached to said support adiacent to said outer end of said canvas and having a looped portion extending over the other half of said canvas roll, the Iother end vof each cable being secured to said revoluble member whereby the o peration of the latter in opposite direction winds the second set of cables thereon and moves said core member toward said support therby rolling said canvas and said iirst set of cables on said core member.

2. A protective device for outdoor playingiields comprising a support movably arranged to =one side of the playing field, :a plurality of sheaves arranged adjacent to the opposite side .of said playing field, a core member, a section of canvas rolled thereon and having its inner end secured thereto and having its outer end 'secured to said support at a point remote from said playing field, said core member and the canvas rolled thereon normally occupying position on said support, .a revoluble member carried 'by-said 'support'above said canvas roll, a first set of spaced-apart cables arranged in juxtaposed relation with said canvas and having their inner -ends fixed to said .core member, each of said cables 'having .a looped portion extending from said canvas roll .and en-- gaging the corresponding sheave, the outer eend of each ci said cables being secured to said revoluble member, a second set of spaced-apart cables each having one end secured to said revoluble member and being wound thereon in a direction opposite to the first set of vcables and having a looped portion extending over the playing field side of said roll, the otherl end extending under the latter and being anchored to said support adjacent to the anchored end of said canvas whereby the operation of said revoluble member in one direction winds thereon the first set of cables and causes said core member to travel over said playing iield, thereby unrolling the canvas While the second set of cables is unrolled from said revoluble member in conjunction with the movement of said core member, the operation vof said revoluble member in opposite direction winding thereon said second set of cables, thereby causing reti-active movement of said core member and the rolling up of .said canvas and restoring said core member and canvas in normal position on said support.

3. In .a device of the class described, the combination with a playing iield having a trench arranged to one side thereof, of a support arranged in saidV trench .and movable therein in `a vertical plane into raised and lowered positions, a core member normally carried by said support, a section .of canvas 'rolled yon said core member and having its inner end throughout its entire length secured thereto and having its outer `end throughoutits entire length secured to said support, means for moving v.said core member over said field 'away from said support and the fixed outer end of said canvas, thereby unrolling said canvas 'over said field, and means forV moving said core member toward said support to roll up said canvas thereon and position .said core member and said canvas on said support. 4. In a device'of the .class described, the coinbination with a playing field having a trench adjacentV to one side thereof, of a support movably mounted in `said trench .and movable therein in a vertical plane,`a cover carried by saidv support for closing said trench when :said support occupies lowered position, a .core member normally carried by said support belov.T said cover, a section of canvas rolled 4on said core member and having its inner end throughout its entire length secured thereto and having. its .outer end throughout its entire length secured 'to -said support, means for moving .said core member and .the .clanvas rolled thereon oversaid field away fromfsaid support and the xed end of said canvas, `thereby unrolling said canvas and `covering said iield, and means for retracting said core member and causing said canvas to be rolled on said corle member and the latter vand said vrolled canvas restored to normal position on said support.

5. A 1dev-ice of the class described .comprising in combination with .a playing field having a trench Iarranged adjacent to one side thereof, of a supporting means mounted in said trench for movement lin vertical plane and including a horizontally disposed cover fixed to said supporting 'means and adapted to close .the upper end of said trench when said supporting means occupies retracted position; a core, .a section of canvas rolled on said core and having 'its' inner end sei cured thereto, both said core and/.said canvas being removably carried by said -supporting meanssaid canvas having the outer end anchored to said supporting -mea-ns, and means for moving said core and the vcanvas rolled thereon over said playing field thereby unrolling and rolling said Vcanvas thereover Vand protecting .said held against rain.

-6. AV device of the class described :comprising in `combination with a vplaying ield provided at one side lwith a trench, -of a support mounted for movement in a vertical plane in said trench, a core member, a section of canvas rolled thereon and having its inner end secured thereto and having its outer end permanently anchored to said support, said core member and said canvas being removably mounted on the latter, and actuating means for moving said core and the canvas rolled thereon over said playing field so as to cover the latter, said actuating means including a plurality of stakes adapted to be anchored on the opposite side of said playing eld, a sheave mounted on each stake, and a plurality of cables engaging said core and said roll of canvas, and operating over said sheaves, said cables being operable to unroll said canvas over saidplaying eld. f

7. A device of the class described comprising a core member, a roll of canvas having one end secured to said core member and having its other end anchored, said canvas being of sufficient dimensions to cover when unrolled the entire play-- ing eld, a first set of cables arranged in spaced relation with each other throughout the entire length of said roll and 4having one of their ends anchored adjacent to the anchored end of said canvas and having loop portions engaging thel outer side of said roll, a second set of cables. arranged in spaced relation with the rst set of cables and with eachother andhaving their innerends secured to said core member and wound thereon in juxtaposed relationwith said canvas, a horizontally disposed revoluble member arranged above said roll of canvas and rearwardly thereof, the outer ends of both sets of cables being fastened thereto, the second Aset of cables being provided each with a loop extending from said roll across said playing eld, and sheaves supported adjacent to said playing leld remote from said roll and receiving said looped ends, whereby the operation of saidl revoluble member in one direction winds the second set of cables on said revoluble member andthereby moves said core and said roll of canvasover said playing eld and unwinds said canvas, the operation of said revoluble member in the opposite direction causing winding of the first set of cables, thereby returning said core and rolling the canvas thereon and toward the anchored end thereof. o

8. A device of the class described comprising a core member, a water-proof canvas having the inner end secured to said core member and adapted to be rolled thereon and having its'outer end anchored adjacent to and rearwardly of the normal position of said core member and the canvas rolled thereon, said canvas being of sufcient dimensions to cover when unrolled the entire playing field, a rst set of -cables spaced throughout the entire length of said roll of canvas, the inner ends of said cables being secured to said core member and said cables being rolled thereon in juxtaposed relation with saidcanvas, a revoluble member mounted aboveand rearwardly of said roll of canvas when the latter occupies normal position, the outer ends of said cables being ixed to said revoluble member, said cables being provided with looped portions adapted to extend. to the opposite side of said playing eld, and a plurality of sheaves arranged on the last mentioned side of said eld and adapted to receive said looped ends, whereby when said revoluble member is operated in one direction said cables are wound on said revoluble member and are vunwound from said core member, thereby moving the latter and causing unrolling of said canvas over said playing eld.

'9. A device of the class described comprising a core member, a Water-proof canvas having the inner end secured to said core member and adapted to be rolled thereon and having its outer end anchored adjacent to and rearwardly of the normal position of said core member and the canvas rolled thereon, said canvas being of sufficient dimensions4 to cover when unrolled the entired playing eld, a rst setI of cables spaced throughout the entire length of said roll of canvas, the inner ends of said cables being secured to said coremember and being rolled thereon in juxtaposed relation with said canvas, a revoluble member mounted above and rearwardly of said roll of canvas when the latter occupies normal position, the outer ends of said cables being fixed to said revoluble member, said cables having loopedv portions adapted toextend to the opposite side of a playing jeld, a plurality of sheaves arranged on said side of said playing eld and adapted to receive said looped ends, whereby when said revoluble member is operated in one direction said cables are wound on said revoluble member and are unwound from said core member, thereby moving said core member and unrolling said canvas over said playingviield, a second set of cables arranged in spaced relation with the first set and with eachother and having one of their ends anchored adjacent to the outer end of said canvas and having their inner ends xed to said revoluble member, the looped portion of said second set of cables extending over the outer side of said roll whereby when said revoluble member is wound-in opposite direction said second set of cables is wound thereon and causes said canvas and said iirst set of cables to be rolled upon said core member and restored to normal position, and means for supporting and containing said roll of canvas and said cables when occupying retracted positions.

l0. A device of the class described comprising in combination with an outdoor playing eld having a trench formed adjacent to one side thereof, of a support mounted in said trench for movement in a vertical plane, a core member, a section of canvas rolled thereon and having its outer end anchored to said support, said core member and said rolled canvas being normally carried by said support, a set of cables cooperating with said core member and with said canvas for moving said core member and the canvas rolled thereon over said playing field, thereby unrolling said canvas over the latter, a set of cables engaging the canvas rolled on said core member for moving said core member to its home position and thereby rolling up said canvas, and a top fixed to said support in spaced relation and above said core member, said top being disposed in a horizontal plane and adapted when said support occupies retracted position to close the upper end of said trench.

Y JOHN A. SCOTT.

HARMON L. HADLEY. 

